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Artwork for The Secret Lives of Games

The Secret Lives of Games

The Secret Lives of Games
UFO 50
Game Design
Game Development
De Mol
Caves Of Qud
Indie Games
Indie Game Development
Michael Brough
Slice & Dice
Block Koala
Discord
Flemish De Mol
Saltsea Chronicles
Strategy Games
Die Gute Fabrik
Rakshasa
Quibble Race
Spelunky
Star Waspir
Night Manor

Candid conversations with game creators that dive deep into the art, craft, and process of making games.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes271Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GamesVideo GamesLeisure

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Artwork for The Secret Lives of Games

Latest Episodes

We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).

Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 7. Who is the Mole, and how does this elimination echo last season's Final Four?

Join us on the Discord for tips on how to wa... more

We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).

Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 6. Who is the Mole, and who will play Juliet to Wout's Romeo?

Join us on the Discord for tips on how to watch, chat about the... more

We're joined by Naomi Clark (NYU Game Center, Consentacle, A Game Design Vocabulary) and Frank Lantz (Q-UP, Universal Paperclips, also NYU Game Center) to discuss Corrypt, a totally normal block-moving game where nothing weird happens. It's the fifth... more

We're recapping the 2026 season of our favorite tv show, Flemish De Mol (Season 14).

Laura, Jey, and Doug recap Episode 5. Who is the Mole, and how will this episode's big twist echo throughout the rest of the season?

Join us on the Discord for ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Naomi Clark
Educator and designer (Consentacle, Hey Robot, Babel Royale, Drop7); NYU Game Center chair
New York University Game Center
Episode: All Systems Brough - Corrypt
Frank Lantz
Emeritus Director of the NYU Game Center; game designer and educator
NYU Game Center
Episode: All Systems Brough - Corrypt
Tara McAllister
Mathematician, musician, game developer; listener letter writer
Episode: All Systems Brough - Corrypt
Rand Zaga
Guest and author of Rand's amateur Zaga-33 Tips
Episode: All Systems Brough - Zaga-33
Andy Schatz
Indie developer and former IGF host, discussed as potential host and participant
Independent game development
Episode: 155: GDC 2026 LIVE Special!
Ben Rausch
Playtopia program director, Cape Town
Playtopia
Episode: 154: Gathering Community with Ben Rausch and Anja Venter (Playtopia)
Anya Venter
Assistant program director for Playtopia, producer at Free Lives
Playtopia/Free Lives
Episode: 154: Gathering Community with Ben Rausch and Anja Venter (Playtopia)
Joonas Turner
Sound designer and developer from Finland
Nuclear Throne team
Episode: 153: Returning to the Wasteland with Jan Willem Nijman, Joonas Turner, and Jukio Kallio (Nuclear Throne)
Jan Willem Nijman
JW, co-creator of Nuclear Throne
Nuclear Throne team
Episode: 153: Returning to the Wasteland with Jan Willem Nijman, Joonas Turner, and Jukio Kallio (Nuclear Throne)

Hosts

Rob Dubbin
Co-host and one of the primary hosts, engaged deeply in discussions about game design and the creator's journey.
Andy Nealon
Co-host who brings lively discussions about gaming culture and creator insights.
Nick Sutner
Co-host engaged in sharing innovative game mechanics and narrative design.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 269 ratings
  • Top Tier Game Dev Podcast

    If your game dev media is saturated with technical dev logs, market conditions, and AAA drama—then I’d recommend balancing your diet with a healthy helping of TSLOG (The Secret Lives of Games).

    Take a break from the hype and economics of indie games to dive deep into the art, craft, and process of making them. Hang out with a group of your old buddies you’ve never met, and discover corners of the games world you never knew you were missing.

    A must-listen for indie devs!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    brokmech
    United States19 days ago
  • Good Show

    Makes me undulate happily whenever this comes on. I still don’t fully know why and should check with a doctor, but I think it feels good so I would say overall it’s a consensual experience.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pdjfjfjk
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • If you love hearing indie devs talk, there's no better podcast.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    ectafoole
    10 months ago
  • Impeccable podcast with an impeccable community surrounding an impeccable game (and other games before and after this year). Perfect score.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Tikwid
    a year ago
  • Been listening a long time

    I remember when this show was about spelunky and I was desperate to listen to people talk about roguelikes. It’s always been a very good games podcast, but the UFO 50 series has changed it entirely. I already liked the hosts. But the guests change the dynamic so much week to week, and it’s a murderers row of literally the best indie devs on the planet. The voicemails, which started as basic call in comments, morphed into a psychedelic fusion of academic criticism and performance art. It’s been g... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bellinater
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall, the show is celebrated for its knowledgeable hosts and engaging guest interviews, fostering a sense of community among listeners.
Listeners appreciate the insightful discussions and deep dives into game design, often labeling it the best game design podcast available.
The show is seen as incredibly informative and enjoyable, especially for those keen on understanding the complexities behind indie games and mechanics.
Some listeners express frustration over perceived shifts in focus towards broader social issues, indicating mixed feelings about the balance of topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

150: Making It Great with Kimmo Lahtinen (Sektori)
Q: Is that still a reasonable thing to do?
I think it's a bit of... Maybe it doesn't fit the device that well, but I have been considering it.
150: Making It Great with Kimmo Lahtinen (Sektori)
Q: What was your kind of logic or I guess gut instinct to include all of it all at once?
I wanted to make this a complete game because it's a very niche game and it never got any attention before release.
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Cyber Owls
Q: Izzy, what is the record?
The world record currently is 15 minutes and 22 seconds.
EP: A Year of UFO 50 - Star Waspir
Q: What makes Star Waspir a unique experience compared to other games in UFO 50?
Its integration of difficult gameplay with a significant demand for skill and memorization sets it apart.
146: Ascending the Ranks with Jeff Dubbin (Competitive Lost Cities)
Q: What do you think is the average number of colors you've opened up?
My sense is that it's very rarely less than three, usually at least three.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Secret Lives of Games

What is The Secret Lives of Games about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring the intricacies of game design and development, this audio series features candid conversations with game creators who share their insights and experiences. Each episode dives into thematic discussions, ranging from the psychological aspects of gameplay to personal anecdotes that highlight the journeys of game developers. Notable topics include game mechanics, community engagement, and the artistic intersection of design and narrative within the gaming industry. This series uniquely intertwines the experiences of indie game developers with broader gaming themes, often leading to deep reflections on the impact of games in contemporary culture.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Secret Lives of Games?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Secret Lives of Games. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Secret Lives of Games and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Secret Lives of Games get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Secret Lives of Games, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Secret Lives of Games?

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How many subscribers and views does The Secret Lives of Games have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Secret Lives of Games has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Secret Lives of Games?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Secret Lives of Games:

1. Post Games
2. Triple Click
3. The Besties
4. The MinnMax Show
5. Noclip Crewcast

How many episodes of The Secret Lives of Games are there?

The Secret Lives of Games launched 8 years ago and published 271 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Secret Lives of Games?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Secret Lives of Games?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Secret Lives of Games from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Secret Lives of Games?

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What guests have appeared on The Secret Lives of Games?

Recent guests on The Secret Lives of Games include:

1. Naomi Clark
2. Frank Lantz
3. Tara McAllister
4. Rand Zaga
5. Andy Schatz
6. Ben Rausch
7. Anya Venter
8. Joonas Turner

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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